Back To The Future: Sweden's Racist Venus Hottentot Cake

The artist screamed grotesquely, as the area of the cake representing the genitals was cut by the minister of culture and each time someone else cut it.This diabolical display was neither funny nor entertaining, as viewed in the context and the history of abuse and dehumanization of Black women. It is horrific.

[Global Commentary: Europe]Why The Minister Must Resign I strongly condemn the outrageous, grotesque, disrespectful and racistevent in which Sweden's minister of culture participated in recently and join in calls on her to resign. It was billed as an art exhibition, inSweden, on World Art Day, April 15, 2012 at the gallery of the ModernaMuseet.Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth, the minister of culture participated in what was purported to be an art installation meant to highlight theissue of female circumcision/genital mutilation. A cake with aglossy black icing on the outside and a red sponge cake inside, wasshaped as a life-size female naked torso. Makode Aj Linde, the artistwho created the installation, was in stereotypic minstrel Black facejuxtaposed to the torso cake. As Ms. Liljeroth was called to cut thecake, she cut a slice of cake from the section that was the vaginalarea. The artist howled in an animalistic manner, as the area of the cakerepresenting the genitals was cut by the minister of culture and eachtime someone else cut it. Many of those in attendance participated incutting of the black cake. As shown in the video, all of those inattendance, laughed heartily at this supposed dramatization of femalecircumcision/genital mutilation, while the artist, as the screaminghead, yelled loudly as each slice of cake was cut. Thisdisplay was neither funny nor entertaining, as viewed in the context and the history of abuse and dehumanization of Black women. It is horrific. Black people were treated with the utmost irreverence because of theprejudice, ignorance and inhumanity of people in power, who sought tojustify their mistreatment, based on their color. The picturesymbolizes the longstanding perception of Black inferiority andsubordination, to the point that Black women were objects of sexualpleasure to be used at the whim and fancy of others. No caring,compassionate person could sit and watch such a minstrel show like theone in Sweden play out before their eyes without the loudest cries ofdenouncement. It is unacceptable to think that the climatethat was created around this cake event and the artist's participationin such a manner, specifically was designed to highlight the violencesurrounding the issue of female circumcision and genital mutilation. For victims of sexual abuse and genital mutilation this "cake party" didnot give voice to their terror but rather their cries fell on the warped minds and mocking voices of those in attendance. Racistscaricatures such as these are contrary to the efforts of those who workto eliminate racism. The horror is only intensified by the fact that the high-ranking government official, Minister Liljeroth, willingly tookpart in this ceremony, smiling broadly and laughing happily whileignoring such blatant manifestations of racism. There are even tinges of perpetuating the stereotype of cannibalism, by the act ofMinister Lilojeroth feeding the very cake to the "victim" whose "cakebody" is being mutilated. This is in no way a laughing matter. Whatdoes this say about the Swedish government? Should it allow anindividual to represent them who willingly smiles and engages in racistactivities? We cannot allow these scenarios of impiety thatonly deepen the crime of victimization. The president and executivestaff of Moderna Museet and the Swedish government should apologize for allowing the artist to display such racist and grave misrepresentationof Black women. I join the National Afro-Swedish Association,which calls for the resignation of Minister of Culture, Lena AdelsohnLiljeroth. This action needs to be taken immediately to show the worldthat Sweden will not stand for such racist behavior, trying to hideunder the veil of art. This presentation rises to a level of horror that equals that of the instances during an era of inhumanity when Blackwomen actually were the subjects of unimaginable medical procedures andexperiments, conducted without their consent and with full knowledgethat the outcomes would lead to their deaths. Sweden needs to show in a very direct manner its abhorrence for this atrocity. Inez D. Barron is the state Assemblywoman for New York's 40th district, which includes the East New York, Starrett City, and Canarsie sections of Brooklyn.Editor's Note: Readers call Sweden's ambassador to the United States JonasHafstrom at (202) 467-2652, give him your two cents and convey yourdemand for an apology and for the minister's resignation. Also send an email message to milton@blackstarnews.com so we can update you on any planned activities against this outrage.